Born in 1992, Etuk Ubong is Nigeria’s youngest trained jazz musician, who studied at Peter King College of Music, Muson School of Music and the University of Cape Town. He started playing at 14.
When he was just 16, renowned highlife musician Victor Olaiya invited him to join his band where he played for about 4 years. He then moved on to play with reggae sensation, Buchi for about two years. In 2012, his former teacher, Ademofe, invited him to play with him at the Lagos International Jazz Festival. Following that collaboration and aged just 21, he was handpicked by Femi Kuti to join his band, and he played at the New Afrika Shrine in Ikeja for the next two years. Moving on from Kuti’s Band, he played with the Art Ensemble of Lagos and various other ensembles in and around Nigeria. He has also performed with Pat Harbison, Ansyn Banks, Nduduzo Makhathini and in the ‘On Mass’ project, headed by Jamie Cullum, as part of the London Jazz Festival 2015.
He is a member of the International Trumpet Guild and represented Africa at its 2015 conference in Ohio. He was also selected as one of the 100 most influential people from Akwa Ibom State in 2016.
Describing him, Onyeka Nwelue, the President of La Cave Musik, a record label based in Paris and New York, said: “Etuk Ubong is young, if you think of his age, but everything he represents is old. He is one of the most talented jazz musicians I have met! Very experimental and at once, appealing to the heart.”
Etuk has since established his own band which plays his original material. Etuk recalls that, “I’d played as a sideman for many years and felt I was ready to lead my own band. I wanted to play my own compositions because it is my passion, and I feel my duty, to share my message of peace and goodwill through my music. I believe there is something for everyone in what I have to say.” He has performed extensively throughout Nigeria and South Africa at top jazz clubs and festivals.
Following the success of his EP, Miracle (2016), Etuk released his debut album entitled Tales of Life in February 2017. He is joined by Timothy Ogunbiyi on keyboard, Taiwo Ibidun on trumpet, Raphael Lasisi on tenor saxophone, Emmanuel Akinloye on bass and Benjamin James on drums on this journey through his life. Tales of Life features eight original compositions that reflect his ambition to bring truth to music and a deep concern for justice, peace and equality. Tales of Life is available on iTunes, Deezer and Spotify.
His current and upcoming performances are focussed on promoting Tales of Life.
Link to the video “Battle for Peace”
https://youtu.be/tR9MUol-Zt4
Links to purchase Tales of life:
iTunes:
http://ift.tt/2nozBQH
SoundCloud:
http://ift.tt/2qxq3B3
Deezer: http://ift.tt/2pvrgua
Spotify:
http://ift.tt/2qxliaU
Tecno Boom :
http://ift.tt/2pvdMPk
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